Tension Advice: Natural Gut in a PD 2012

Recently I had my two Babolat PDs strung with Babolat Natural Gut (BT7) 16 gauge at 60 lbs. When I got them back I tested them with the iPhone "RacquetTune" ap and indeed they both registered at 60.2 lbs and I REALLY liked the way 60 lbs felt.

Fast forward 30 days. Interesting fact... I've only hit with one of the two racquets for about 10 hours, but now BOTH register at 55 lbs. I can definitely feel the difference and much prefer the feel at 60 lbs.

When I re-string I want to stick with full nat gut. So my 2 questions are:

1. If I re-string with 16G again should I string at 64-65 lbs to account for the 5 or so lbs of tension loss regardless of play?

2. If I decide to try 17G nat gut should the tension range be the same as 16G?

That's going to be a hard call. Strings stretch whether you use the racquet or not. In your case, you've measured about 5# of tension loss. However, gut will continue to lose tension (imo about 10%) before stabilizing. Upping the tension by 5# probably will still be short if you like 60#. And you probably won't like the feel of gut at 65# or 67#. You should also look at TWU string database because the higher initial tensions result in higher total tension loss.

If you go from 16 ga to 17 ga, to get the same feel (i.e. SBS), you're going to have to up the tension by at least 5-6#. Unfortunately, that means the tension loss will also be higher and quicker since you are using a thinner gauge.

Thank you for the info. I had no idea! Quite the conundrum . I really like natural gut feel and don't really want to give that up, but the tension loss is an issue and re-stringing two racquets with it every 2-3 weeks could be cost prohibitive. Hmmmm, what to do?

I use PD's with gut as well and have them strung at 61#. On another thread someone said they're surprised I get anything in the court with gut strung less than 75#. Have you restrung these yet? I'm curious if this super high tension could be correct. I am having issues hitting balls long with my racquets, but not with some others and am wondering if my tension has dropped in the 50's and that's the issue.

I haven't gotten them restrung yet. Soon. And I'll probably go for 62# on one and 64# on the other. I'll report here again once they're restrung.

75# on a PD is ridiculous. My PDs felt GREAT freshly strung at 60#... then they dropped 5-6lbs and became a bit more powerful at the sacrifice of some control (distance mostly), but they are still quite playable.

I'm sticking with full gut. I've read in other threads that multis lose even more tension than gut (not to mention they don't feel or sound like gut).

OK... got one PD21012 restrung with Wilson Nat Gut 17G. Interesting observation... this time my local shop restrung it using a Babolat Star 5 (instead of TW the 1st time when I bought my racquets). I asked for 62#. Tested it with RacquetTune when done... 71# :shock:!?!?! WTF? :evil:

Doh!!! Thank you dgoran. Ok, just changed the gauge/string in RacquetTune.

Result = 65.5#

Better than 71#, but still 3.5 higher than expected. Oh well, they will settle (drop) and all will be good. In the meantime, I did hit with it today for 30 min and it felt like a 2x4. Tension is too high for now. I think I'm gonna love somewhere between 58-60# when all is said and done.

I know there are several factors but... Given modern day technology, isn't it interesting that stringing machine manufacturers (especially the higher end ones) haven't dialed in their machines to compensate for that. Shouldn't 60# = 60#? One would think.

RacquetTune app actual tension heavily depends on string factor set for a string, and as such it's much more suitable for tracking tension loss (in %) since it's relative to initial tension readout, and not in absolute numbers.

Additionally, when you experiment with tensions, it's critically important to stick with the same machine and preferably ask the string job to be done by the same stringer, as well.

Finally, if you pick up your racquets after differents at different time after stringing, you will register different initial tensions (the significant percentage of tension loss occurs in the first 6-8 hours after stringing, particularly noticable when you string in 60s). As an example, your stringer might have stringed your first racquet early in the morning, and the second racquet shortly before you came to pick it up.

I know there are several factors but... Given modern day technology, isn't it interesting that stringing machine manufacturers (especially the higher end ones) haven't dialed in their machines to compensate for that. Shouldn't 60# = 60#? One would think.

Click to expand...

That's why racquets are strung by people and not machines.
An experienced and caring tech could compensate.

RacquetTune app actual tension heavily depends on string factor set for a string, and as such it's much more suitable for tracking tension loss (in %) since it's relative to initial tension readout, and not in absolute numbers.

Additionally, when you experiment with tensions, it's critically important to stick with the same machine and preferably ask the string job to be done by the same stringer, as well.

Finally, if you pick up your racquets after differents at different time after stringing, you will register different initial tensions (the significant percentage of tension loss occurs in the first 6-8 hours after stringing, particularly noticable when you string in 60s). As an example, your stringer might have stringed your first racquet early in the morning, and the second racquet shortly before you came to pick it up.

Click to expand...

Listen to this advice well said... I might add that its best if you string it yourself that way you will eliminate most of these factors.